What’s a college kid’s favorite week of the year? Spring break. Amidst the high stress and pressure from a demanding academic schedule, the week-long break is planned and looked forward to months in advance. College students from across the country flock to warm-weather locations: Miami, Mexico, Hawaii, and many more. Videos and pictures on social media show massive parties on the beach fueled by excessive alcohol consumption.
Binge drinking on spring break is no joke. The American College of Health conducted a study that revealed males reported drinking 18 drinks per day, on average. Women reported an average 10 drinks per day. That’s a LOT of alcohol.
Other studies have reported that students have the intention to binge drink on spring break in particular. 92% of alcohol consumed by underage drinkers is done so in the form of binge drinking. If students have the mentality that they will be drinking excessively over spring break, it’s essential to understand the risks associated with this behavior.
Alcohol poisoning, serious injury, drunk driving, sexual abuse, and assault are among the most dangerous situations that can result from binge drinking. And, not to mention, alcohol consumption under the age of 21 is illegal, leading to encounters with authorities as well.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t relax with friends and have a good time, just do so responsibly. Here’s the top 5 ways to stay safe during spring break:
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Stick with a buddy and have a mutual agreement to monitor each other.
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Know your limits.
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Stay hydrated (try drinking one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage).
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Ensure you have a designated driver or use a taxi/Uber.
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Don’t take a drink from anyone you don’t know.
(Bonus tip: re-apply sunscreen often! Sober you will thank you for it later)
Sources:
www.promises.com/articles/binge-drinking/the-dangers-of-spring-break-bin…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2014/03/11/spring-breaks-great…